In-place display on sensory data

Abstract

A system for in-place visualization of sensed data is provided. The system includes a formable sheet comprising a display and sensors embedded within the sheet underneath the display. The display will display information relating to sensed data on a portion of the display corresponding to locations of the sensors located underneath the display. As a result, the display displays the information above or directly above the sensors that output data.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A method to present sensor data, comprising:
 sensing, by a sensor, a parameter that relates to an object being tested; 
 generating, by the sensor, a measurement based on the sensed parameter; and 
 in response to generation of the measurement by the sensor, displaying, on a flexible display coupled to the sensor, information that relates to the measurement on a portion of the flexible display corresponding to a location above the sensor, 
 wherein the displaying on the flexible display includes displaying a real-time pictorial gradient of the measurement that includes a first shade of a color to represent a first gradient of the measurement and a second shade of the color, different in shade than the first shade, to represent a second gradient of the measurement, wherein the second gradient includes a different value relative to a value of the first gradient. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second shade is different in shade than the first shade by being lighter in shade than the first shade. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the different value relative to the value of the first gradient includes a decreased value relative to the value of the first gradient. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the sensing the parameter includes at least one of sensing a change in temperature or sensing a change in blood flow of the object being tested. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor includes a first sensor, the parameter includes a first parameter, and the measurement includes a first measurement, the method further comprising:
 sensing, by a second sensor, a second parameter that relates to the object being tested; and 
 generating, by the second sensor, a second measurement based on the second sensed parameter, the second measurement corresponding to a location, below the second sensor, that is different from a location below the first sensor. 
 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 5 , wherein the real-time pictorial gradient includes a first real-time pictorial gradient, and wherein the displaying on the flexible display further includes displaying a second real-time pictorial gradient of the first and second measurements. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor is in contact with the object being tested. 
     
     
       8. A non-transitory computer-readable medium that includes executable instructions stored thereon that, in response to execution, cause a processor to perform operations, comprising:
 control a sensor to sense a parameter that relates to an object being tested; 
 control generation of a measurement based on the parameter sensed by the sensor; and 
 control a flexible display, coupled to the sensor, to display information that relates to the measurement on a portion of the flexible display corresponding to a location above the sensor, 
 wherein the displayed information includes a real-time pictorial gradient of the measurement that includes a first shade of a color to represent a first gradient of the measurement and a second shade of the color, different in shade than the first shade, to represent a second gradient of the measurement, wherein the second shade includes a different value relative to a value of the first gradient. 
 
     
     
       9. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 8 , wherein the second shade is different in shade than the first shade by being lighter in shade than the first shade. 
     
     
       10. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 8 , wherein the different value relative to the value of the first gradient includes a decreased value relative to the value of the first gradient. 
     
     
       11. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 8 , wherein the operations to control the sensor to sense the parameter include operations to control the sensor to sense at least one of a change in temperature or a change in blood flow of the object being tested. 
     
     
       12. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 8 ,
 wherein the sensor includes a first sensor, the parameter includes a first parameter, and the measurement includes a first measurement, and 
 wherein the executable instructions, in response to execution, cause the processor to perform further operations, comprising: 
 control a second sensor to sense a second parameter that relates to the object being tested, and 
 control generation of a second measurement based on the second parameter sensed by the second sensor, the second measurement corresponding to a location, below the second sensor, that is different from a location below the first sensor. 
 
     
     
       13. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 12 ,
 wherein the real-time pictorial gradient includes a first real-time pictorial gradient, and 
 wherein the executable instructions, in response to execution, cause the processor to perform further operations, comprising: 
 control the flexible display to display a second real-time pictorial gradient of the first and second measurement. 
 
     
     
       14. An apparatus, comprising:
 a flexible display that includes a viewable portion; and 
 at least one sensor positioned underneath the flexible display and configured to sense at least one parameter of an object being tested, 
 wherein a first location of the at least one sensor corresponds to a second location within the viewable portion that lies at least partially directly above the first location, 
 wherein the flexible display is configured to display information in the second location within the viewable portion that pertains to the at least one parameter that is sensed by the at least one sensor, 
 wherein the displayed information includes a real-time pictorial gradient of a measurement, 
 wherein the at least one parameter includes a first parameter and a second parameter, the measurement includes a first measurement, and the real-time pictorial gradient includes a first real-time pictorial gradient, 
 wherein the at least one sensor is further configured to:
 sense the second parameter of the object being tested, and 
 generate a second measurement based on the second sensed parameter, the second measurement corresponding to a location different from the first location, and 
 
 wherein the flexible display is configured to further display a second real-time pictorial gradient of the first and second measurements. 
 
     
     
       15. The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one sensor is further configured to generate the first measurement based on the sensed at least one parameter. 
     
     
       16. The apparatus of  claim 15 ,
 wherein the real-time pictorial gradient of the measurement includes a first shade of a color to represent a first gradient of the first measurement and a second shade of the color, different in shade than the first shade, to represent a second gradient of the first measurement, and 
 wherein the second gradient includes a different value relative to a value of the first gradient. 
 
     
     
       17. The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the second shade is different in shade than the first shade by being lighter in shade than the first shade. 
     
     
       18. The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the different value relative to the value of the first gradient includes a decreased value relative to the value of the first gradient. 
     
     
       19. The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one parameter includes at least one of a change in temperature or a change in blood flow of the object being tested.